JoinMembers of HEPNet can enjoy numerous membership benefits that will be useful to people in many lines of work, from programming to compliance, human resources to legal, policy to athletics, and everything in between!
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| Annual dues in 2025 are $270 for individuals in higher education and $380 for those outside of higher education that support our mission. Students and retirees can enjoy a limited access membership for only $100. | If several people from your institution or system wish to join HEPNet as higher ed members, together you can receive a dues discount of up to 20%. Group rates are available for 2-10 individuals. 2 individuals at the same institution pay $514 total; 3 pay $729; up to 5 pay $1150; up to 10 pay $2160. |
| VIEW TESTIMONIALS | MENTORSHIP PROGRAM | VIEW COMMITTEES |
| Regularly Scheduled Webinars* | Webinars are held multiple times a year at no charge to members. Topics range from risk management to transgender youth participating in programs to swimming pool precautions as it relates to abuse. We have been conducting regular and relevant webinars since 2013 on a wide range of topics. |
| Annual Conference* | The HEPNet annual conference includes networking, educational sessions, social events, new member welcome session, mentorship opportunities, and a whole lot more. Members will receive a discounted rate each year on the conference. |
| Member Connections* | Because HEPNet is so diverse in which areas members work in, some members go to recreational sport conferences while some go to risk management. Chances are that someone else at your conference is also a member of HEPNet but you wouldn’t know without Member Connections. This interactive map shows where conferences are, when, and who will be there, so that you can network and meet up if desired. It also shows where member institutions are as well as when and where HEPNet Hangouts are occurring. |
| Community Chats* | HEPNet Community Chats are monthly virtual gatherings where members discuss youth protection practices, share updates, and exchange resources. Each session focuses on timely topics relevant to members, fostering collaboration and support across institutions. |
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
| Leadership* | There are many committees that need chairs and participants and the sky is the limit in how involved you can get in HEPNet. The great thing about this field is very few have “been doing it for 30 years,” so there is no intimidation factor holding someone back from getting involved, even if you are brand new. We welcome all professional fields and experience levels to contribute to our mission and goals. |
| Affinity & Affiliated Groups* | We are working on partnerships with many groups that can bring expertise and breadth to HEPNet. For example, we work closely with the American Camp Association (ACA) in aligning camp accreditation standards with the higher education environment and ACA has an affinity group for Camps on Campus. We are currently reaching out to many other organizations and associations to form meaningful partnerships and experiences. |
| Job Board* | HEPNet’s website hosts a job board for opportunities related to youth protection, across all fields. |
| Blog | The HEPNet Blog will give members the opportunity to share their knowledge, experiences, and anecdotes about their protection of minors experience at their colleges/universities. The blog will also give HEPNet members a writing credit as blogs are considered publications. |
SERVICES
| Discussion Board* | The ability to connect with and ask questions of those not only in your line of work, but across many disciplines is a unique benefit of HEPNet and this will certainly be to your advantage when you have access to all these individuals through a listserv and discussion board. |
| Benchmarking Surveys & Data | Benchmarking of policies is useful, especially to those beginning to write youth protection policies, but will help anyone. It is always good to know what those informal industry standards are. |
| Mentor Program* | New members will have the opportunity to be matched with a mentor based on many factors- which department you are housed in, where you are in the policy writing stage, regional connections, etc. Mentors will have the opportunity to meet before each annual conference in order to “show mentees the ropes” and relationships can last as long as you both want it to. |
RESOURCES
| Professional Competencies |
As youth protection becomes increasingly recognized as an important function in higher education, there is a need to outline professional characteristics as a guide for those within and outside the field. These competencies describe the fundamental knowledge, skills, and essential behaviors for successful job performance and represent the defining characteristics that embody a youth protection professional in higher education. |
| Training Modules | Training is a huge component in preventing child abuse and educating on how to report suspected abuse. It is helpful to see other trainings to get inspiration for your own, or to know what to look for in a boxed training. Different schools, as well as commercial trainings available for purchase, have their training on display for you to view. |
| Registration Systems |
Compliance: For those with youth protection policies that require registration, or thinking about it, this resource is invaluable. You are able to view other schools’ systems, as well as some available for purchase. Program: This critiques and outlines multiple program registration systems, including blogs of current members and will benefit programmers, and perhaps those who may get related questions about program registration systems. |
| Research | In higher education, research is vital so this is an important part of our member resources. |
| Presentations | Amongst our members, we have given numerous presentations. As a member, you will have the privilege of viewing some of these presentations at no additional cost. |
| Member Directory* | So that you can reach out to others by position, department, or school. |
| Good Practice Guides | This is an evolving field so there is no “best” out there yet, but that’s what we want to get to. In the meantime, these guides will give guidance on what is being done in regards to background checks, audits, and many other topics. |
| Newsletters* | Stay in-the-know not only with HEPNet business, but the field of youth protection in higher education as a whole. Learn of professional development opportunities, recent news stories of related misconduct, get to know one of your fellow members in the Member Spotlight, and much more. |